Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo is one of several players to withdraw from Netherlands duty after a viral infection struck the Dutch squad.
Ronald Koeman will be without Gakpo for Friday’s heavyweight Euro 2024 qualifier with France in Paris as well as presumably their following clash with Group B minnows Gibraltar in Rotterdam on Monday.
The Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) confirmed on Thursday that Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt had also left the group, along with Newcastle defender Sven Botman, PSV Eindhoven midfielder Joey Veerman and Anderlecht goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen.
The KNVB did not reveal any specific details on the illness affecting the quintet.
Liverpool will hope that Gakpo is able to recover quickly, with a huge trip to Manchester City looming in their first game back after the international break at the Etihad Stadium on April 1.
The 23-year-old has impressed since completing a £35million switch from PSV to Anfield in January off the back of a stellar World Cup campaign in Qatar, scoring four goals in nine Premier League appearances including a Merseyside derby strike and brace in the 7-0 drubbing of fierce rivals Manchester United.
Liverpool have already seen striker Darwin Nunez withdraw from the Uruguay squad for friendlies against Japan and South Korea due to an injury suffered in the 1-0 Champions League last-16 second-leg defeat by Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.
Teenage midfielder Stefan Bajcetic will miss the remainder of the season with an adductor injury, with the likes of Thiago Alcantara, Luis Diaz, Joe Gomez and Calvin Ramsay also sidelined.
Title contenders City have their own major injury concern ahead of Liverpool’s visit next weekend, with star striker Erling Haaland withdrawing from Norway’s Euro 2024 qualifiers against Spain and Georgia with a groin injury suffered in the 6-0 FA Cup quarter-final thrashing of Burnley.
